The lifecycle of the malaria parasite

1 Targeting vivax
P. vivax is one of two
forms of relapsing malaria to infect
humans, and is the most prevalent spe-
cies in Southeast Asia and South America.
TRANSMISSION It has the ability to become dormant in the
TO MAN liver (hypnozoite) and can be reactivated after
months or even years leading to an attack of
blood stage malaria despite the absence of a
mosquito bite. MMV is actively looking for new
TRANSMISSION molecules that will provide complete cure of
patients infected with dormant liver stage
TO MAN vivax malaria, in addition to the blood
stage infections a so-called
radical cure.
LIVER
Sporozoite
Nucleus Hypnozoite
vivax dorm
P. a
Sporozoites

nt
15-30m
ins

stage
1
Oocysts ays
d
Sa
l

S HU
iv a

2
9-1
r

MA
yg
M

X
land

Infected
N LI
Ookinete
O
12-3
U

Hepatocyte
5.4 days
S Q

VER STAGE
<
UITO STAGE
6h
L

Schizont
Diploid
S TA ins

Zygote
1h

15

GE

Merozoites
Mi

Micro-
dg
ut

e
gametocyte
E
AG
(Exflagellation)
3 9 days ST
HU L
MAN L
Macro- BLO O D CE
gametocyte
Erythrocyte

TRANSMISSION
TO MOSQUITO 2
ms

G
Gametocytes
43

-4
pto

Ring 8h
ym

3 Blocking
transmission
ls

Blocking the transmission of the

ca

parasite from patient to patient is key

Trophozoite i
ni

if malaria eradication is to be realized.

In the blood of an infected patient a minority cl
of parasites form gametocytes the sexual form to
of the parasite. It is these gametocytes, taken up in
Schizont d ing
the mosquitos blood meal, that infect the mosquito
and thus continue the parasites lifecycle. MMV is C y cle le a
working to identify compounds that will target and Targeting
destroy these blood stage sexual forms (gametes) the blood stage
to block transmission from man to mosquito
as well as vector stages (ookinetes and
2 The majority of available
antimalarials target the blood stage in
oocysts) thereby blocking transmission the parasite lifecycle, since this leads to the
from the mosquito back clinical symptoms of malaria. Current treatment
to man. requires a 3-day administration once or twice
daily. Ideally, a drug is needed that requires just
a single oral administration, thereby improving
compliance and allowing the healthcare worker
to directly observe treatment. This is especially
important when treatment follow-up is difficult,
as is the case in many malaria-endemic
countries. MMV is currently trialing
a candidate for a single-dose
cure.
The timings are for Plasmodium falciparum only
MMV 2010.07

Defeating Malaria Together

www.mmv.org